Cara Behrens
Dr. Fogelman
EDC 102 H
September 9, 2013
She dropped her crayon onto the wooden desk immediately after she had made that final curved line. Her smile was one of pride and accomplishment. Three-year-old Caitlin had just successfully written her name for the first time. She struggled with this task for weeks, getting frustrated and angry with herself. “I can’t do it” that little voice would cry, “it’s too hard.” I would always ensure her that she was capable. On that day she had realized she had no reason to doubt neither herself nor I. Watching this little girl achieve her goal had made me realize that I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to help more children realize that they can do anything they set their mind to. The only criteria would be putting in the time in the effort. Now that I had a goal of my own, I would have to put in the time and effort to achieve it, just like Caitlin. Working in my local preschool allowed me to reevaluate my own academic strategies. I consider goal setting, seeking guidance, and maintaining balance the three most important attributes to my own academic success. These aspects were further enhanced by my time with these preschool children. Seeing their academic experience gave me an entirely new perspective on how to improve myself as a student.
In order to be a successful student, it is imperative to set goals. Students need to have a ultimate goal, but within that goal there has to be smaller ones. Caitlin's goal was to write her whole name. However, to achieve that goal she had to meet smaller milestones such as dotting her i's and crossing her t's. My ultimate goal is to be an elementary school teacher. In high school I understood that to be an education major, I would have to go to a college with a strong education program. I began to do my research. Every school that I wanted to go to required strong SAT scores, high GPA, and many extra curricular activities. Every night of my high school career I would sit at my desk and do countless hours or work and studying. I would set smaller goals such as doing my SAT review for an hour a night, completing my math homework before going to dance or finish studying before watching another episode of the Bachelorette. Whenever I was overwhelmed I would tell myself that it would all be worth it once I had that acceptance letter. If either Caitlin or myself had done what was ‘easiest,’ we wouldn’t have reached our goals. My academic success has been based on goal setting. Everyday I set small goals that will in turn help me reach the bigger success.
The lessons that I taught the preschoolers are lessons that can be applicable to adults as well. I remember showing the three year olds the word “fox.” In order for the children to understand what this word means, they would first identify each letter, they must then phonetically sound out each letter, and finally identify what the word fox meant. Some children could do this with ease, while others needed help. I found that throughout my academic experience I learned in a very similar way. My hardest class in high school was AP Statistics. Like the preschool students, I found that the formulas and symbols had no meaning until my teacher explained it. Understanding the symbols was never enough; I also had to understand their function and meaning. I was not one of the kids in the class who grasped the concept quickly. Like many of the three-year olds, I had to ask for help. I would spend hours in the resource room with my teacher, attend review session, even look to my fellow students for clarification. Seeing the way these children learn made me reflect on my own learning method as a student. It is most beneficial to seek for extra assistance to have a better understanding of new concepts and not fall behind.
Everyday the children would put away their work and engage in free play. Their faces would automatically light up as they ran to different corners of the room. Some kids would go to the books, others would build with blocks or play with dolls. Free play would allow the children to explore their own interests while releasing their stress. I found that working in the preschool was in a sense my own personal “free play.” Working with these children was something I enjoyed. It is nearly impossible to solely focus on schoolwork without becoming overwhelmed. Without some sort of stress inducer, you’ll become tired and worn out. Working with the preschool students gave me an escape from all my rigorous course work. I was able to increase my academic success because I re-energized and de-stressed before conquering my studies.
The greatest contribution to my academic success has been the rewarding experience of working with the young minds at my local preschool. Working with these children made me long for the day I myself could be a teacher. This goal is what continues to motivate me to sit down and study every single night. Another aspect that I learned through these children was the importance of asking for help. Seeking help prevents all learners from falling behind. I also learned the importance taking time out of your busy schedule to do things you love. This will allow your mind to grow in a ways that can’t be found in required courses. Working with these preschool children has made me the student I am today. The values that I learned through this process will continue to propel me forward as I continue my education.
Dr. Fogelman
EDC 102 H
September 9, 2013
She dropped her crayon onto the wooden desk immediately after she had made that final curved line. Her smile was one of pride and accomplishment. Three-year-old Caitlin had just successfully written her name for the first time. She struggled with this task for weeks, getting frustrated and angry with herself. “I can’t do it” that little voice would cry, “it’s too hard.” I would always ensure her that she was capable. On that day she had realized she had no reason to doubt neither herself nor I. Watching this little girl achieve her goal had made me realize that I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to help more children realize that they can do anything they set their mind to. The only criteria would be putting in the time in the effort. Now that I had a goal of my own, I would have to put in the time and effort to achieve it, just like Caitlin. Working in my local preschool allowed me to reevaluate my own academic strategies. I consider goal setting, seeking guidance, and maintaining balance the three most important attributes to my own academic success. These aspects were further enhanced by my time with these preschool children. Seeing their academic experience gave me an entirely new perspective on how to improve myself as a student.
In order to be a successful student, it is imperative to set goals. Students need to have a ultimate goal, but within that goal there has to be smaller ones. Caitlin's goal was to write her whole name. However, to achieve that goal she had to meet smaller milestones such as dotting her i's and crossing her t's. My ultimate goal is to be an elementary school teacher. In high school I understood that to be an education major, I would have to go to a college with a strong education program. I began to do my research. Every school that I wanted to go to required strong SAT scores, high GPA, and many extra curricular activities. Every night of my high school career I would sit at my desk and do countless hours or work and studying. I would set smaller goals such as doing my SAT review for an hour a night, completing my math homework before going to dance or finish studying before watching another episode of the Bachelorette. Whenever I was overwhelmed I would tell myself that it would all be worth it once I had that acceptance letter. If either Caitlin or myself had done what was ‘easiest,’ we wouldn’t have reached our goals. My academic success has been based on goal setting. Everyday I set small goals that will in turn help me reach the bigger success.
The lessons that I taught the preschoolers are lessons that can be applicable to adults as well. I remember showing the three year olds the word “fox.” In order for the children to understand what this word means, they would first identify each letter, they must then phonetically sound out each letter, and finally identify what the word fox meant. Some children could do this with ease, while others needed help. I found that throughout my academic experience I learned in a very similar way. My hardest class in high school was AP Statistics. Like the preschool students, I found that the formulas and symbols had no meaning until my teacher explained it. Understanding the symbols was never enough; I also had to understand their function and meaning. I was not one of the kids in the class who grasped the concept quickly. Like many of the three-year olds, I had to ask for help. I would spend hours in the resource room with my teacher, attend review session, even look to my fellow students for clarification. Seeing the way these children learn made me reflect on my own learning method as a student. It is most beneficial to seek for extra assistance to have a better understanding of new concepts and not fall behind.
Everyday the children would put away their work and engage in free play. Their faces would automatically light up as they ran to different corners of the room. Some kids would go to the books, others would build with blocks or play with dolls. Free play would allow the children to explore their own interests while releasing their stress. I found that working in the preschool was in a sense my own personal “free play.” Working with these children was something I enjoyed. It is nearly impossible to solely focus on schoolwork without becoming overwhelmed. Without some sort of stress inducer, you’ll become tired and worn out. Working with the preschool students gave me an escape from all my rigorous course work. I was able to increase my academic success because I re-energized and de-stressed before conquering my studies.
The greatest contribution to my academic success has been the rewarding experience of working with the young minds at my local preschool. Working with these children made me long for the day I myself could be a teacher. This goal is what continues to motivate me to sit down and study every single night. Another aspect that I learned through these children was the importance of asking for help. Seeking help prevents all learners from falling behind. I also learned the importance taking time out of your busy schedule to do things you love. This will allow your mind to grow in a ways that can’t be found in required courses. Working with these preschool children has made me the student I am today. The values that I learned through this process will continue to propel me forward as I continue my education.